Fitness+Blogging = Fitbloggin' 2012!

This weekend I attended FitBloggin' 2012 in Baltimore, MD.  If you are a fitness or healthy living blogger, I HIGHLY recommend you attend this conference next year.

What is FitBloggin'?  

FitBloggin' is a conference that brings together fitness and healthy living bloggers to talk about passion for fitness, food, living a healthy lifestyle, and to learn more about building your blog, using social media to expand your reach, and optimizing your content.

Why did I go?

Friends tried to persuade me to go to BlogHer this year, but it seemed like a lot of money for my itty-bitty blog.  Plus, I wanted something more running fitness focused.  So I was THRILLED to discover FitBloggin' was in my neck of the woods this year.  I figured I would go, mingle just a bit, learn just a little bit, and get just a little bit of free stuff.  Wow, was I wrong.  I learned A TON, met LOTS of really great people, and... well, holy swagballs:

Just some of the awesome swag.

What did I learn? 

First of all, I NEED A CAMERA.  (Also, if anyone is keeping track, an iPad would be awesome.)  My silly iphone just isn't cutting it.  So, unfortunately, pictures on this post will be few.

More substantially:

I learned that video and vlogs are a powerful tool in reaching a broader audience.  Did you know that?  I had NO IDEA.  Sarah Dussault of SarahFit.com talked about how to "Harness the Power of YouTube."  I'm not sure if I'm ready to step in front of the camera just yet, but the possibility has definitely piqued my interest.  If only my fashion consultant and make-up artist didn't live thousands of miles away.

I also learned that even though I'm on Twitter, I really have no idea what I'm doing there.  Emily Sanford, owner of Authentically Social, talked about Using Social Media to Drive Blog Traffic, which I found fascinating.  There are lots of sites out there that can help you determine how far your reach extends, and will even tell you whats the best time of day to tweet so you'll reach more of your followers!  Knowing your numbers is key, apparently.  And pretty darn interesting, if you ask me.

(From FitBloggin Live Blog)

I also really enjoyed the panel on Building Your Brand with Amy Nowacoski of Fat Girls CAN Run.  Who is 'Ama?  Why should I follow 'Ama?  Where is 'Ama going? (not to bed like I should be, I can tell you that!)  I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and its been rather overwhelming.  This session really gave my thoughts some direction, and you'll be seeing some changes in the next few months!

I also learned about Search Engine Optimization (SEO), which I had heard of, but never really knew what it was about, or what to do with it.  Brandi Koskie of DietsinReview.com spoke on Driving Traffic Through SEO, which I found to be so helpful: tag your pictures, title your blog pages (different from blog posts), use trending keywords when possible.  Apparently there is a certain way to talk to Google (and other web engines), and I am not yet fluent in that language.

Learning about SEO (from FitBloggin Live Blog)

Lastly, but definitely not least, I learned how to connect with brands and maybe make a little dough from my blog.  Kelly Olexa of FitFluential talked about Monetizing through the Pitch. I've never had dreams of making any significant money off my blog, but a few bucks here and there would be nice. Especially considering the time it takes to maintain this puppy.  So this was an insightful session for me.

And there were SO MANY other discussions and panels to attend.  I wasn't able to make all of them, but I still feel I got my money's worth and so much more.

PLUS...I met so many amazing bloggers:

Run, Write, Conquer who is now less of a runner and more of a cross-fitter AND she is transitioning into competing!  We had a great conversation about Cross-Fit and she's moved me just a little bit closer to checking it out.

Ericka of The Sweet Life is training for her 7th marathon (I'll wait while you process that.  Yes, 7!!).  She'll be running the Marine Corps again this year.  DJ Research is also running MCM, so I'll be there to cheer her on!

Meg of RunFitKin is training for her 2nd marathon (CIM).  She also recently ran Hood-to-Coast, which I'd love to do some day.

Laura of Mommy Run Fast completed her first marathon last year AND her first triathalon this past year.  She is also mom to a beautiful daughter.

Tim of Midpack Runner will be running the Amica Marathon in Newport, Rhode Island and has a super informative blog on all things running.  Check it out!

Hit the Road Jane will be running 3 more half marathons this year--that's one per month--and she'll finish 2012 with 10 half-marathons under her belt!  She'll be tackling her first full marathon in February 2013.

Jaime, founder of Fit Approach, is an ultrarunner and recently ran Pine to Palm.  I. am. so. jealous.

And  my blogger-celebrity sighting of the conference: Miss Zippy.  I've been following her blog for a while, and learn so much from her.  I actually mustered up the nerve to ask for her autograph introduce myself, and it was super cool to meet her in person.

FitBloggin 2013 will be in Portland, Oregon next year.  I REALLY want to go (family vacation, maybe?), but its too soon to make a final decision.  If you're on the fence about attending, I HIGHLY recommend you do, especially if you live on the west coast.  Its truly a great experience!

Back on the Home Front

DJ Research and Nugget had a blast themselves while I was partying it up in Baltimore.  The DJ kept sending me pictures of their adventures.  Nugget apparently  took care of the grocery shopping and paid some bills over the phone:

He also indulged in his obsession for water fountains:

I was so thankful for these pictures.  As much as I enjoyed FitBloggin, I sure did miss my boys.

What is the most helpful blogging tip anyone has given you?  Have you ever attended a blogging conference?

RAR!

My mojo has left the building

For the past two days, my mojo has decided to enjoy the beautiful weather outside without me, leaving me to workout indoors.  Alone.  With no spunk.

Actually I wasn't alone.  I just wanted to feel sorry for myself.  Because being spunkless just isn't bad enough.

Yesterday I did core exercises, and then threw in a cardio kickboxing DVD since I have to miss my kickboxing class this week.  I LOVE this cardio kickboxing DVD, and the super-peppy instructor is usually able to get me pumped no matter how many times I've watched the routine.  But something was really off yesterday.  Even Miss Super-Pep couldn't pull me out of my super-funk.

Maybe it was because yesterday was technically my day off, and I really debated with myself whether I should work-out, or whether I should go shopping.  I figured shopping isn't a good enough reason to be lazy, so down to the gym I went.  Little did I know my mojo went in the other direction, exited the building and was strolling in the sunshine, while I round-housed with very little enthusiasm.

The work-out wasn't an entire waste.  I did get some good reps in during my core exercises, and the kickboxing session does end with a killer core workout.  Still, I felt a bit betrayed by my mojo.  Maybe tomorrow will be better, I thought.

Well, tomorrow was today, and today was my dreaded cycling class.  My mojo was still absent.  I'm pretty sure it went for a hike.  I really had no desire to cycle up fake hills and then cycle back down those same fake hills (or maybe they're different fake hills?  I dunno.  They're fake.)  But I had already committed to this class, and I knew it was going to be a good workout.  So in a desperate attempt to lure my mojo back, I did a very brazen thing:

I smiled.

Last week, I listened to the Krissy Moehl interview on URP, and her advice to ultrarunners?  Smile.  She always makes a point of smiling as she comes into an aid station.  Also known for her smile?  Ellie Greenwood, whose most recent accomplishment is back-to-back wins at the American River 50.

Ellie Greenwood still smiling after 40 miles
via sacramentorunning.com 

There must be something to this whole smiling thing, I thought.  So, I smiled the whole damn class.  I probably freaked my fellow fake cyclists out.  But I told myself the pain wasn't worth it if I wasn't having fun, so just enjoy this crazy class and smile.  And it worked!  My mojo came back!  I finished strong and I had a blast.

Moral of the story?  Smile and you will never lose your mojo.*

*To clarify: I am using the term "mojo" to refer to one's self-confidence and self-assuredness in general, and not to confidence in specific places or in specific horizontal positions.  This is not that kind of blog, people!